Crank lock for box-car doors



March 22 1927. 1,621,966

, A. E. ASHLEMAN ET AL 1 CRANK LOCK FOR BOX CAR moons Filed y 6, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I i 33 Li jj x lfl March 22 {1927.

A. E. ASHLEMAN ET AL CRANK LOCK FOR BOX CAR DOORS Filed July 6. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 am'ucufouj t3 I I I o anomaly Patented Mar. 22, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,621,966 PATENT OFFICE.

ADOLPH E. ASHLEMAN' AND THOMAS E. HANEY, F WACO, TEXAS.

CRANK LOCK FOR BOX-CAR DOORS.

Application filed July 6, 1926.

The present invention has reference to sliding door construction and more particularly sliding doors used in connection with freight cars, the primary object of the invention being to provide a door constructed in such a way that articles which may become wedged against the door from within the door, will not prevent the operation of the door to open or close the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide a door having a movable inner section connected with the door in such a way that it will move to its inactive position simultaneously with the movement of the operating handle to open the door. A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel form of operating mechanism whereby the door may be readily moved from its closed position to its open position or vice versa.

With the foregoing and, other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter de scribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure l is a fragmental elevational View of a car illustrating a door constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an elevational view illustrating the inner surface of the door.

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken on line 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view illustrating the position of the inner movable section of the door when the door is being moved to its open position.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the body of the car is indicated generally by the reference character 5, which car is provided with the usual side openings that are closed by means of the sliding doors 6.

Vertical bars 7 are secured to the sides of the door openings and these bars are formed with curved inner surfaces 8 for purposes to be hereinafter more fully described.

Each door includes a main or body portion 9 which is provided with suitable arms on which the rollers 10 are mounted, the

Serial No. 120,771.

rollers operating in the guide 11 secured at the top of the door opening.

Rollers 12 are provided at the lower edge of the door and operate on the track 13 for supporting the weight of the door 6 and permit the door to operate freely.

As illustrated, the door is of a length so that the lower edge thereof extends below the track 13, where it is turned upwardly as at 14 to engage under the track 13 and insure against lateral movement of the door and prevent the door from swinging outwardly under pressure directed thereto from the interior of the car body.

Disposed under the track 13 is a rack bar 15 which-is engaged by the pinion 16 operating on the inner end of the shaft 17,, which shaft also carries a ratchet wheel 18 that is engaged by the pawl 19 carried by the operating handle 20 to the end that when the pawl is moved to engage the ratchet wheel, the handle may be rotated to rotate the pinion 16 to move the door along the track, to open or close the same.

The handle is provided with a pivoted section 21 that is provided with an opening to fit over the member 22, whereupon a suitable seal may be positioned in the opening 23 formed in the member 22, to lock the operating handle against movement, and plonsequently prevent the opening of the cor.

The inner door section is indicated at 24 and is connected to the main door section 9 by means of the pivoted end sections 25 that extend throughout the length of the door, the inner door section 24 being however of a size to fit within the door opening in a manner as shown by Figure 2 of the drawing.

The reference character 26 indicates an elongated leaf spring secured to the door Section 24 at 27, the ends of the spring contacting with the door section9 at points adjacent to the upper and lower edges thereof, with the result that when the door has been moved to its closed position, the inner door section 24 will be forced inwardly to a position as shown by Figure 2.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that should an article become wedged against the inner door section 24, the door section 24 will, when the door 9 is being moved to its open position, swing inwardly away from the article which has become wedged against the door and the door will move to its open position unobstructed in its movement.

It might be further stated that in order to relieve the rack bar andpinion of undue strain, a latch member 28 is provided and secured to the body of the car, the latch member having an extension adapted to fit in an opening. of the keeper 29, carried by the door, it bein understood that the latch member may be readily moved to its inactive position by the person operating the door lifting the latch member from its keeper.

V] e claim 1'. A sliding door for cars including an outer section and an inner section pivotally connected to the outer section and adapted to be extended into the door opening, means for operating the door, and said inner section adapted to automatically move to a position in close engagement with the outer section when the door is moved to its open position.

53. A sliding door for cars including an outer section, an inner section, pivoted end sections connecting the outer door section and inner door section, re'iilient means disposed between the door sections to-normally urge the door sections away from each other, and said inner door section adapted to automatically move to a position to engage the outer door section when the door is moved to its open position.

3. A sliding door for cars including an outer section and an inner section, means for pivotally connecting the outer section and inner section, means for urging the sections away from each other, vertical bars hailing beveled edges, said beveled edges adapted to engage the door to move the inner section towards the outer section.

LA sliding door for cars including an outer section and an inner section, said inner section being oi a size to fit within the door opening o: the car, end members for pivotally: connecting the inner and outer door sections, a spring positioned between the sections to normally urge the sections away from each other, and one of said end members adapted to engage the car to move the inner section into engagement with the outer section, and means tor operating. the door.

5. A sliding door for freight cars including an. outer section and an. inner section, meansfor pivotallyconnecting the outer and inner sections, said inner sections adapted to move to a position within the car door opening, aspring member positioned between the door sections to move the door sections away from each other, and said inner door section adapted to move to a position adjacent to the outer door section when the door is moved to its open position. i

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own, we have hereto attired our signatures.

ADOLPH E; ASHLEMAN. THOMAS E. HANEY. 

